LMP Faculty Mentorship Program

LMP’s Mentorship Program supports the development of the faculty's scholarly activities (research, teaching and clinical skills), in addition to promoting career satisfaction and optimal career management. 

The mentor-mentee relationship will be a no-fault relationship and can be terminated at any time by either party without any repercussion to either party. 

The LMP Mentorship Award recognizes the value of mentors and is overseen by the LMP Mentoring Committee. See LMP Faculty Awards in teaching, research and service for recipients of this award.

Program goals 

To provide a welcoming atmosphere for new faculty by: 

• assisting faculty members with career planning and advancement 
• increasing awareness and knowledge about opportunities in teaching, research and creative professional activity.

To enhance academic productivity, career satisfaction and retention of faculty.

To provide an introduction to LMP, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the University of Toronto. 

Mentees

The program is open to all LMP faculty members at any stage of their career, with a focus on faculty in the early stages of their careers. 

If the mentor-mentee relationship ends prior to the 3-year review, the Mentoring Committee will work with the mentee to assign another mentor.

At the request of the mentee and with the agreement of the mentor, the mentor-mentee relationship may continue beyond the 3-year review and will be supported by the LMP Mentoring Committee. However, continuation of the mentor-mentee relationship beyond the 3-year term is not mandatory. 

If the mentor does not wish to continue, the mentee can ask for another mentor and the Mentorship Committee will help the mentee find another mentor. 

Mentees will have input into the matching process, i.e. mentees will have the opportunity to request a specific mentor or an additional mentor to that assigned. 

Roles and responsibilities for mentees

As a mentee, you will:

• take responsibility for making arrangements to meet with your mentor at least three times per year 
• prepare short term and long term goals to be discussed with your mentor 
• consult with your mentor to plan/ decide on your career path (research vs. Creative Professional Activity (CPA) vs. teaching) 
• send your mentor, at least one week prior to your meeting, an updated activity report
• participate in faculty development opportunities offered by the department and/or Temerty Faculty of Medicine (e.g. Centre for Faculty Development workshops) 
• participate in the evaluation of the mentoring program.

Mentors 

Mentors provide confidential counsel and assist in the goal of promoting a successful academic career – academically, clinically and personally.

The mentor is senior enough to provide useful counsel and is knowledgeable about the discipline of the faculty member, but is distant from lines of reporting and evaluation. 

Mentors do not have a direct reporting relationship with respect to the mentee, at either a clinical, teaching or research level, unless the mentee requests that the mentor be involved in assessments. 

Mentors are usually LMP faculty as they would be aware of the department’s expectations, resources and processes. A non-LMP faculty member may be the preferred mentor, or a team of mentors may be requested. Mentors can be sought from other departments from within or external to the University of Toronto. 

Mentor participation is voluntary and each mentor will be assigned no more than two mentees at a time. 

Roles and responsibilities for mentors

As a mentor, you will:

• meet with your mentee at least three times per year 
• review all relevant material that your mentee provides 
• help your mentee set appropriate professional goals, focus on a career path (i.e. research, Creative Professional Activity (CPA), or teaching) and advise on specific expectations for promotion 
• encourage and help facilitate scholarly activities for your mentee including advice on seeking research funding, publication and authorship of manuscripts, introduction to key national/international figures in their area of interest and development of key skills such as teaching, and assistance in any other aspects necessary for them to succeed (e.g. non-academic life)
• participate in mentoring training opportunities offered by the department or and/or the Temerty Faculty of Medicine (e.g. Centre for Faculty Development workshops) 
• participate in the evaluation of the mentoring program.

LMP Mentorship Committee 

• Samir Patel, Co-Chair, LMP Mentorship Committee, and Associate Professor, Public Health Ontario
• David Hwang, Co-Chair, LMP Mentorship Committee, and Professor, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Michael Pickup, Assistant Professor, Ontario Forensic Pathology Service
• Vathany Kulasingam, Professor, University Health Network
• Althea Neblett, Lecturer, Ontario Forensic Pathology Service
• Dhuha Al-Sajee, Assistant Professor, University Health Network
• Swati Garg, Lecturer, University Health Network
• Shaheed Hakim, Assistant Professor, Unity Health
• Rish Pai, Professor, Mount Sinai Hospital
• Iram Siddiqui, Assistant Professor, Hospital for Sick Children
• Lianna G. Kyriakopoulou, Associate Professor, Hospital for Sick Children

Contact

For any questions about the LMP Mentorship Program, contact:

Debb Yorke

Executive and Operations Coordinator
416-978-2557
lmp.chairadmin@utoronto.ca

Location: MSB 6231